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Training Resources

The sky is the limit when it comes to training your dog. Lasting results take significant time and dedication but training can (and should!) be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your pup. Below are some resources compiled by The Animal Pad’s behavioral team to help guide you and your dog through the vast world of training.

The Animal Pad Recommended Trainers

In-Person Trainers (Local to San Diego, CA)

 

Virtual/Remote Trainers – Access individual, specialized training from anywhere in the country!

  • • Five by Five Canine – Bronagh Daly (Connecticut)
  • • Rehab Your Rescue – Beth Berkobien (specializing in separation anxiety) (Texas)
  • • R+ Dogs – Renee Rhoades
  • • Play Way Dogs – Dr. Amy Cook (specializing in reactivity) (Northern CA)
  • • The Cognitive Canine – Sarah Stremming
  • • Aggressive Dogs – Michael Shikashio (specializing in aggression/reactivity)
  • • Paws and Reward – Marissa Martino
  • • Fenzi Dog Sports Academy – an online school to learn about everything dog-related, from how to address fear reactivity/aggression, to training a sport dog, to managing arthritis in dogs

 

Free Educational Resources

General

 

Aggression, Reactivity, & Resource Guarding

 

Socialization & Relationship Building

 

Separation Anxiety

 

Leash Manners, Obedience, Puppies, & Trick Training

 

Kids & Dogs

Paid Educational Resources: Webinars, Seminars, Courses

 

General

 

Aggression & Reactivity

 

Socialization & Relationship Building

 

Separation Anxiety

 

Leash Manners, Obedience, Puppies, & Trick Training

 

Red flags to keep an eye out for when searching for a trainer:

  • • Doesn’t primarily use positive reinforcement OR they primarily use verbal praise or petting as reinforcement
  • • Fails to prioritize the human/dog relationship as a primary method of communication and training
  • • Adheres to alpha/dominance based training philosophy
    • – With resource guarding, recommends that you put your hands in the dog’s food while they’re eating or taking it away
  • • Heavily relies on aversive tools (shock collars, prong collars), or jumps straight into using them
  • • They can’t tell you the difference between behavior suppression and behavior modification
  • • Prescribes a “one size fits all” training program, and/or put the same tools and use the same methods on every dog
  • • Guarantees results, especially problematic if in a short period of time
  • • Doesn’t acknowledge the dog’s body language as an indicator of comfort level and consent
    • – Can’t identify when a dog is “shut down” or displaying learned helplessness
  • • Forces dogs into stressful situations to make them “get over” their feelings
  • • Tells you dogs should “obey” you out of respect
  • • Doesn’t believe in continuing education
  • • Says that obedience will solve a behavior issues (especially reactivity)

 

IMPORTANT: Trainers that rely on these training methods are often creating a more dangerous dog by failing to address the underlying problems (feelings and emotions) that led to a behavior. Take extreme caution in who you trust to train your dog.